Fasting has never been a regular practice of my faith. While I appreciate it and endorse the practice, it is not something that is commanded by the calendar. Perhaps because fasting is so rare for me, the few times I have practiced it have been sufficient to teach me why it is practiced at all: it makes us stop and think.

The giving up of certain foods at certain times can be quite an exercise in devotion. It makes us consider every bite that goes into our mouth. We must answer the question, "Is this permitted at this time?" And, in true fasting, no one is standing there to clap their hand over our mouth (unless, perhaps, you are very young). The challenge is presented to sharpen our own will to fulfill that which we have vowed to God. And while we are examining our grazing pattern, we are reminded that everything we eat (no matter how hard we may have worked to grow it, purchase it, and prepare it) is a gift from God to be received with thanksgiving.

Thanks to the providence of God, my fasts have been largely voluntary. Fulfillment of my needs has almost always been within my immediate grasp. But for most of us, that is suddenly changing.

Are you ready for a gas fast? The price of our favorite fuel has more than doubled in a year, and that for many reasons. China and India, the two most populous nations on Earth are becoming much like us, with burgeoning economies and bustling metropolitan cities. Like us, they are rapidly lapping up petro-products. Unfortunately, this new spike in demand comes at a time when world oil production is largely past its prime. We spent the last century sucking the easy oil out of the ground. There's still some down there, but it will be harder and more costly, to produce. Remember when gas cost less than 50ยข a gallon? See if you can get your grandchildren believe that! Welcome to the gas-fast.

So, what does this mean for all of us? It means we have to think about every drop we use and how we're going to do with less. As the summer begins with this holiday weekend, a new word has entered our vocabulary: staycation (a vacation with little or no travel to beat the high cost of fuel). While this may be an imposition and a disappointment (if you don't live within walking distance of a theme park or beach) it is actually part of the solution that may bring us all a measure of relief. If we all conserve just a bit (I'm walking to a lovely park near my office for lunch most days now) we can bring down our demand for oil. A drop in demand is apt to show up quickly in the marketplace as demand is expected to rise this time of year. We could see prices stabilize or perhaps even fall a bit if we really work at it. At the very least, every gallon we save is real money in our pockets. And, if you opt for a staycation, you won't have to listen to an hours long chorus of "Are we there yet?"

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